AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo 2025 provided a forum for attendees and exhibitors to see some of the latest developments in the construction materials industry.
Along with the latest technology and equipment on display, the show served as an opportunity to check the pulse of the industry. The Portable Plants staff spoke with several attendees and exhibitors to hear about 2024, how the first three months of the year went and what might be on tap for the rest of 2025.
Another hot topic at AGG1 was the overall health of the industry. With the first quarter of the year fraught with volatility due to tariffs, stubborn inflation, supply chain struggles and much more, there was plenty to talk about on the show floor.
Here’s what several industry members said about their businesses nearly three months into the year.
On what markets are driving business: A lot of our customers are in the concrete and asphalt space, so we’re producing aggregates for their end use. We will do some DOT (Department of Transportation) work. We’re partnered with some selective road construction companies doing materials production for new asphalt material or recycling concrete demolition if there’s a job where they’re peeling up old concrete.
– John Scepaniak, WD Scepaniak
On the first three months of 2025: The term we’ve been throwing around is ‘cautious optimism.’ Everyone is still optimistic, everyone still wants positive things to happen and I think everyone is willing to work together to get through them, but at the same time, there’s a lot of waiting and not knowing what’s going to happen. Unfortunately, right now, things are changing day to day.
On the current state of infrastructure projects: There are certain areas that are growing, where businesses are being built. Whether it’s an Amazon, another battery plant or things of that nature, in those areas, you’re seeing the money. You’re seeing infrastructure being built like bridges, and in those cases, you’re seeing the private [construction] actually pick up a little bit. Everyone coming to work there needs to live somewhere. Then you have other areas that are very slow.
– Ian Edwards, Major
On current aggregate production: Over the last 20 years, there has been a decline in volume and a tremendous increase in pricing. Back in post-2008, small mom and pop operations were producing a lot of volume at a much lesser price. Some of them got consolidated in certain markets. So, at this point, a company like ours, we’re not looking at maximizing the volume we can, we’re looking at the best return on our assets, which is our reserves. You’ll see more and more of that strategy in the industry, which drives that low volume.
On the overall health of the construction materials industry: There’s no clear sign or indicators as to whether or not we should expect a slowdown or if a return to manufacturing in the U.S. would mean a boom for us. That’s yet to be seen. We haven’t seen a universal response to tariffs in the industry. For some companies, it depends on where they’re sourcing their products. Who’s to say what happens in the next six months? It’s hard to put a pulse on at the moment.
– Thabiso Bolebano, Rogers Group
On how the company is working with customers to navigate the industry this year: We’re going to continue listening to our customers to figure out where they feel the industry should go or what’s causing them pain. We’re not creating a product in itself; we’re creating a product to help the end users make money and run well. At the end of the day, it’s about helping their process run better, faster, strong and, ultimately, make money.
– Duncan High, Haver & Boecker Niagara
On last year’s performance: 2024 was a good year overall. Some of our companies had their best year ever and some of our stuff out in western Missouri was a little slow. Overall, it was a very successful year. We’re coming into this year looking even better.
On the impact of tariffs: The tariffs that have been put in place could be both good and bad. We could see the prices of some things coming up, especially steel. A couple of years ago, we supplied Big River Steel in Arkansas with over a million tons of product. With the tariffs put in place and prices going up and putting a little buffer between material being imported, this next phase they’ve been talking about for several years could actually happen. So, in our little area, it could be something good but, overall, we know that there will be some extra cost of doing business.
– Jamie Jones, Capital Aggregates
Featured photo: Portable Plants Staff